Our 18 Favorite Free Web Design Software Tools to Build a Website

With approximately 1.12 billion websites in existence right now, competition is fierce. But don't worry because there are plenty of free website design tools that can help your company stand out from the crowd.

When looking for the best web design software for free, there are a few things to keep in mind. In this post, I'm going to walk you through everything you need to know to use the best free web design tools that will allow you to create an engaging, user-friendly website. Then, I'll share some that you can try yourself.

Best Web Design Software: Features to Look For

What makes the best web website design software so effective? You're about to find out. When considering different web design tools, here are a few capabilities and features you should look out for.

Visual Editor

Web design primarily focuses on the visual aspect of websites as opposed to the content management side. As such, good web design software should include a visual editor that allows you to design seamlessly. There's no need to touch actual code (unless you want to).

Not all of the software on my list has a visual editor because it really depends on what you're looking for. If you are looking to interact with your website and make changes to the back end, a good visual editor is a must. If you are looking for something to solve a more specific problem, don't worry. I've still got some good solutions for you.

Compatibility with Current Systems

Whether you're using CMS Hub or WordPress, your web design software should be compatible with your current website builder or content management system (CMS). For instance, after using Sketch, you should be able to export the prototype's CSS code and import it into your chosen CMS.

Templates

A piece of great web design software will offer you a point to work off of. Because this type of software is meant to be beginner-friendly, you shouldn't have to start from scratch. That's where templates come in. 

The best web design software will offer various templates for you to create a site that looks and feels the way you envision it. Templates are also beneficial for designers who are just starting out and want something to work off of.

It's also important that the design software you choose has a template design that you actually like. Would you rather have a million templates to choose from that you'll never use? Or one beautiful template that you know will help you make the most of your website?

Fonts and Graphics

You shouldn't feel short-changed when trying to use a free web design tool. It's imperative you have access to the fonts and graphics you need to create a stunning prototype or wireframe. Your web design tools should offer you plenty of options for fonts and graphics, and if it doesn't, you should look for an alternative.

Some web design tools will also include hosting services, SSL certificates, content management tools, and domain names. Others will only offer tools for wireframing and visual design. Others are still only designed for writing code.

Whether you're looking for an all-in-one solution or a standalone design tool, I've got you covered with this list of top web design software.

With hundreds of tools available, it can be overwhelming to decide which are worth your time. That's why I've graded and curated a list of some of the best design tools that you can use for free.

The list will be divided into three subsections:

• Best Free Web Design Software for Beginners
• Simple Free Web Design Software
• Code Free Web Design Software

Let’s begin.

Best Free Web Design Software for Beginners

1. CMS Hub: Best All-in-One Web Design Software for Beginners

Free, Premium version available

OS: Any (web-based)

Get started with CMS Hub for free

If you're seeking a two-in-one website builder and content management system, CMS Hub is my top choice. Some of its main features include a visual drag-and-drop editor, a robust collection of templates, and even an SSL certificate. Because using CMS requires zero coding knowledge and provides everything you need to launch a website, it comes out on top as the best all-in-one design software for beginners.

CMS Hub is also integrated with all other products in the HubSpot platform, including CRM, marketing software, sales software, and service software.

According to Sean Landry, Principal Product Designer at HubSpot, CMS Hub is an excellent choice of web design tools because of how comprehensive it is. "HubSpot offers an all-in-one solution," he says. "Since the CMS is part of the platform, it keeps your content and your customers in the same place. Knowing how your customers are interacting with your content allows for seamless data management and automation across Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service."

Here's a look at my own CMS Hub website from start to finish.

What I love about CMS Hub is that it's great for someone like me who has literally run away at the sight of Python and Java. I don't have to do any coding, and I can be absolutely sure that I'm not skipping any steps. 

After installing my theme, the world is my oyster. I get to pick between some landing pages, an about, a contact, and a homepage. Just for fun, let's see what the 'landing page - coming soon' page looks like.

Everything on this page is customizable, and I love the customizable timer widget. The bottom line with CMS Hub is that every part of building a website is thought of for you. All you have to do is click through and decide what you want, then customize each page for you.

This can be a blessing and a curse, and it mostly depends on your coding experience/what you want to do with your website. If you're a newer web developer, this is the perfect experience for you. If you're more experienced and want to add unique customization, you'd be better set with one of the other options on this list.

CMS Hub Core Functionalities

• Web Design
• Collaboration
• Wireframing
• Content Management
• Website Structure
• URL Mapping
• Analytics Reporting
• Security

CMS Hub Pros

• Free!
• Comprehensive content management system
• No coding is required with an easy drag-and-drop page builder
• A healthy selection of templates
• Seamless integration with the rest of the HubSpot CRM platform
• Hosting is included

CMS Hub Cons

• If you opt for a premium plan, it may be more costly than other options listed that offer paid plans (though this includes hosting costs)
• CMS Hub can feel limited compared to other options on this list. You don't get much customization beyond what is given through the templates.

Total

CMS Hub is the perfect solution for newer web developers and small businesses. You don't need a big team to get a beautiful website up and running. The most obvious benefit is getting built-in integration with the HubSpot CRM platform. I'd recommend this to any solopreneur, small to medium business and/or anyone just curious about starting a website.

2. WordPress: Best Free Blog Design Software for Beginners

Free

OS: Any (web-based)

WordPress is an open-source content management system that makes it easy to set up a website in minutes. There are thousands of free plugins available to download and install so that you can extend the functionality of your site. By taking advantage of plugins, the entire site customization process is streamlined. In other words, you don't need coding skills to start designing.

It's important to note that WordPress is free to use, but there are other costs associated with building and running a site on the platform. We break down the cost of building and launching a WordPress website here.

Landry shares some of his favorite WordPress features, which include how the tool is "Free to use, [and has] lots of available tools to either host your own site or use a hosted solution. They have a large community of users to help troubleshoot problems, and an extensive library of plugins that makes extending your site really easy without needing to know how to code."

If you've ever even thought about building a website, you've heard of WordPress. The infinite number of plugins and themes can be intimidating to a newcomer, but seasoned veterans will find the number of options preferable. 

The free web builder is pretty intuitive, but if you want to add any of the plugins or themes that WordPress is known for, you'll need a premium account.

If you'd like to add a custom domain name without the WordPress tag at the end, this is also locked behind the paywall. If you're starting to see a (non-WordPress) theme here, you're not the only one. Most of the good stuff on WordPress is premium-only, but you can still build a workable starter website for free. 

WordPress Core Functionalities

• Content Management
• Blog Design
• Website Structure

WordPress Pros

• Most popular CMS on the internet - a massive 43% of the internet is built using WordPress
• Highly customizable and configurable thanks to its open-source build
• Thousands of themes and plugins to customize and optimize your site
• SEO-friendly with built-in integration and plugins to help maximize your search ranking

WordPress Cons

• The WordPress CMS is free, but you’ll still have to pay for good hosting
• Can feel too hands-on for those who want a more streamlined site-building experience
• You can rack up the costs with plugins and templates depending on your website's needs
• WordPress has known security vulnerabilities that leave your site at risk if not addressed

Total

I'd recommend WordPress for medium-big businesses with teams capable of maintaining your website. And also for newer developers who are brave of heart and willing to pore through the developer content and forums out there on WordPress. 

3. Figma: Best Free Collaborative Wireframing Tool for Beginners

Free

OS: Any (web-based)

Best defined as an interface design tool, Figma enables multiple designers to collaborate in real-time. As such, it's ideal if you have various project stakeholders involved in the design process. Figma is a web application, so you won't need to download a tool to your desktop.

If you use the free version, you get three Sigma and 3 FigJam files, as well as unlimited personal files, collaborators, templates, a mobile app, and plugin use.

Landry loves that teams have the ability to try this web design tool out before they commit.

"Since they offered a free version it made trying and adopting easy," he says. "By offering a web version they made collaboration much easier without needing to have an Invision license to let other non-designers comment on your designs. The built-in prototyping allows a designer to create interactive and animated prototypes without the need for additional tools."

If you upgrade to the Professional tier, you'll get unlimited projects and unlimited history, while the Organization tier gives you access to advanced security and analytics.

Figma Core Functionalities

• User Interface Design
• Collaboration
• Wireframing
• Prototyping

Figma Pros

• An excellent piece of web design freeware for wireframing, mockups, and prototyping
• Unlimited drafts, commenters, and editors are allowed on the free version (however, projects are limited)
• Real-time collaboration with team members

Figma Cons

• The free version is slightly limited
• Only tracks 30 days of changes
• Can experience performance issues, especially over weaker connections

Total

Figma is a solid option for design-oriented professionals who want to collaborate with teammates on wireframing with good functionality for both free and premium users.

4. Sketch: Best User Interface Design Tool for Mac Users

Free Trial

OS: macOS

Sketch is one of the most (if not the most) well-known and used tools for web designing. It comes with an advanced vector tool, which aids in the collaborative development of interfaces and prototypes. This tool was built particularly for making websites and web apps.

Its prominence among the designer community is at least partially due to its clean interface and high performance; however, it only works on Mac. Since many designers work on Windows, you might be better off with a web-based option such as CMS Hub or a Windows-based option such as Lunacy.

According to Landry, "[This was the] first vector-based interface design tool that made it easy to design UIs quickly. The ability to save symbols was revolutionary. The integration with Invision made it easy to create prototypes and collaborate with team members. The large library of plugins developed made extending the tool's functionality easy."

Sketch Core Functionalities

• User Interface Design
• Collaboration
• Wireframing
• Prototyping

Sketch Pros

• Intuitive, easy-to-use, and popular design tool
• Clean, simple displays for users who hate page clutter
• Handles all phases of the design process from wireframes to prototypes and developer handoff

Sketch Cons

• Free trial only
• macOS only
• Weaker collaboration features than other options on this list

Total

If you're on a Mac, Sketch is the best UI design tool for you. It's easy to integrate, easy to use, and easy to collaborate with others. It's not completely free, as you'll only get a 30-day free trial. After the free trial you'll have to pay $10/month billed yearly.

5. Lunacy: Best Free User Interface Design Tool for Windows Users

Free

OS: Windows, macOS, Linux

The free alternative to Sketch for Windows, Lunacy is now a fully functional graphic design software that's rich in features. A couple of years ago, all it could do was open Sketch files on Windows. Today, it offers all the standard features of a UI and screen design tool and a library of free, high-quality graphic assets.
It includes full support for Sketch files, so if you ever switch from Windows to Mac or vice versa, you can edit your Sketch design without a problem.

Lunacy Core Functionalities

• User Interface Design
• Collaboration
• Wireframing
• Prototyping

Lunacy Pros

• Built-in graphic assets to quickly add content to your screens
• Compatible with Sketch files, letting you edit them on a Windows device
• Allows for offline editing, unlike web-based competitors

Lunacy Cons

• It is a relatively new product, with some minor bugs being resolved
• Performance issues have been reported, especially when dealing with large files
• Lacks prototyping features

Total

Lunacy is like Sketch, except it works across platforms and offers full functionality completely free. It's also the only design tool among its competitors to offer AI functionality. You can upscale images, remove backgrounds, generate placeholder text, and create user avatars for contact lists and testimonials. Here's a comparison of Lunacy versus some of the other tools on this list.

6. Adobe XD: Best Prototyping Software for Adobe CC Users

Free Trial

OS: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android (web version also available)

Though it's one of the newer tools on this list, Adobe XD quickly became the go-to tool for many in the web design community. Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Illustrator hold the first three spots in the graphics software market share. Because of this, Adobe XD became the natural choice for graphic and web designers.

Even if you're an Adobe newbie, Adobe XD is a top-of-the-line web design tool worth trying. The tool offers a repeat grids feature, which allows you to easily create grids and populate them with images, text, and other one-of-a-kind content. Additionally, this tool is handy for creating and testing variations in the spacing between UI elements.

Adobe XD Core Functionalities

• User Interface Design
• Collaboration
• Wireframing
• Prototyping

Adobe XD Pros

• Great reputation as an end-to-end UX design tools
• Seamless integration with other products in the Adobe suite like Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop
• Good performance when handling large files
• Handy UI kits from top tech brands to build out interfaces more quickly

Adobe XD Cons

• You'll have to pay if you want to use Adobe XD - there's only a free trial.
• Lacks real-time collaboration ability
• While there is an extensions library, it is not as robust as some competitors

Total

Adobe XD Pros gives you plenty of functionality and is probably the best bet for a big business. There's the added bonus that if you're already familiar with and/or regularly using Adobe tools, Adobe XD is easy to integrate into your workflow.

7. Origami: Best Free Web Design Tool for Animations

Free

OS: macOS

Origami is an interface design tool created by the designers of Facebook. It's everything you wish Sketch had when it comes to making high-fidelity UIs and prototypes. It's tailored to building mobile prototypes, which support all popular mobile interactions and gestures.

Origami truly shines in terms of adding screen interactivity. Most UI design tools offer limited micro-interaction settings, but this tool enables you to fine-tune spacing, timings, triggers, animation types, and more.

The best part is that it allows you to use it in conjunction with Figma and Sketch, so if you're using those web design tools, you can toggle back and forth without losing any of your progress. Now that's a win!

Origami Core Functionalities

• User Interface Design
• Animation
• Wireframing
• Prototyping

Origami Pros

• Easy prototyping, animations, and micro-interactions
• Specializes in mobile prototyping
• Compatibility with Sketch and Figma

Origami Cons

• Lacking collaboration features
• More difficult to learn than other options
• Less support and community if you run into problems using the tool

Total

As a smaller tool on our list, Origami has a more niche use. This could be a benefit because you're getting features that you wouldn't get anywhere else, like the ability to fine-tune specific animation types. It could also be a detriment if you run into any issues because you can't find support online as easily.

Simple Free Web Design Software

8. FluidUI: Best Simple Web Design Tool for Prototyping

Free

OS: Any (web-based)

FluidUI is a free online tool that is ideal for prototyping and building UIs quickly. This tool, combined with the library of standard Apple and Google material assets, enables direct editing in your browser. You can also share prototypes via email and share links so that others can review and leave comments on the page.

Building prototypes only takes a matter of minutes with the assistance of this tool. Plus, you can access it anywhere, whenever you want — whether you are using a desktop app or accessing via a browser.

FluidUI Core Functionalities

• Quick Prototyping
• User Interface Design
• Wireframing

FluidUI Pros

• Quick, easy web design freeware for prototypes and wireframing
• Accommodates both high-fidelity and low-fidelity prototyping
• Real-time collaboration and easy sharing

FluidUI Cons

• The free version is limited — you’re allowed one project with ten pages and one user
• It is less ideal for higher-fidelity designs, as it's meant for fast iterative prototypes
• Paid plans are more expensive than other options here but necessary for collaborative projects

Total

FluidUI allows for real-time collaboration and easy sharing, making it a great choice for team projects. The free version is limited, with only one project allowed and ten pages per project. For collaborative projects, paid plans are available but come at a higher cost (starting at $19.08) compared to other options. 

9. Vectr: Best Simple Web Design Tool for Vector Drawing

Free

OS: Any (web-based)

A cloud-based, free illustration tool with similar features to Adobe Illustrator and Sketch. Vector offers everything you need to get started building complex illustrations or designing a site or mobile application. Plus, one of its keynote features is that it's easy to learn and does not have a steep learning curve.

Learning how to use the drag-and-drop editor is easy, and because it's cloud-based, sharing designs is exceedingly simple. That means your team will be able to collaborate and gather feedback without the headache.

Vectr Core Functionalities

• Vector Drawing
• Prototyping
• Wireframing

Vectr Pros

• A solid Adobe Illustrator/Sketch alternative for vector graphics
• Easy cloud-based collaboration
• Simple, intuitive interface and features

Vectr Cons

• Requires an internet connection to use
• Importing and exporting have been reported as occasionally difficult
• The tool displays ads

Total

Vectr is another good, simple tool that you can use for drawing. Unlike some of the other options in this category that I've presented, Vectr is easy to learn, and you can get started immediately. Your functionality is limited compared to other options, but that's a trade-off you have to be willing to make for the intuitiveness of the tool and how easy it is to collaborate with others.

10. GIMP: Best Simple Web Design Tool for Photo Editing

Free

OS: Windows, macOS, Linux

The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) is an open-source, popular photo editor supported by Linux, macOS, and Windows. Although the interface looks a bit outdated, it packs quite a bit of power and is capable of almost everything Photoshop can do.

It's a wonderful choice for designers who have limited budgets and need to design UIs or edit photos. Plus, it has third-party plugins available you can use to enhance functionality.

GIMP Core Functionalities

• Photo Editing
• Prototyping
• Wireframing

GIMP Pros

• A powerful alternative to Photoshop for designers on a budget
• Feature-rich and sufficient for rudimentary and advanced photo editing
• A large community of users for support

GIMP Cons

• Outdated interface
• Tools and icons are not always intuitive for non-experts, resulting in a steeper learning curve
• Primarily intended for photo editing and lacks out-of-the-box prototyping and wireframing features

Total

GIMP is the best alternative to Photoshop and is powerful for those who need to edit a picture on a budget. It's admittedly built on outdated software, but it's good enough to get the job done.

11. Marvel: Best Simple Web Design Tool for User Testing

Free

OS: Any (web-based)

Marvel is ideal for producing and refining an interface exactly how you want it to appear and for creating prototypes. It offers a truly innovative way of creating pages and enables you to simulate the design via a prototype.

There are several integrations available that enable you to insert your designs into the project workflow. There is also an integrated user testing feature, which is still rare in the web design space. Another reason I love it is because it provides the opportunity to centralize feedback.

Marvel Core Functionalities

• Prototyping
• User Testing
• Collaboration

Marvel Pros

• Fast and efficient creation and user testing
• Integrated user testing features
• Simple, user-friendly interface
• Includes a handoff option that translates prototypes into CSS

Marvel Cons

• The free version limits you to one project and requires Marvel branding on projects
• Performance issues have been experienced with larger projects
• Handoff does not include HTML, just CSS

Total

This tool is like the 'Ant-Man' of web design software tools. It's a good tool that does exactly what it's supposed to do and gets the job done. But once you need it for bigger projects, you start running into problems. I'd recommend Marvel for solopreneurs and small businesses who want a fast way to get user testing feedback on a budget.

12. Wix: Best Simple Website Builder

OS: Any (web-based)

An affordable, easy-to-use WordPress alternative, Wix is a website builder offering free and premium plans. Similar to WordPress, Wix makes it possible to build all kinds of sites, including stores and blogs, in just a few minutes. But the experience of managing a Wix site will be very different from WordPress.

If you opt for one of the premium plans, you'll get a fully managed subscription service. This means Wix takes care of all the technical details around site hosting, back-ups, and security. You can also choose the free ad-sponsored plan, which comes with hundreds of options and templates to choose from. Therefore, if you are seeking a less hands-on option than WordPress, Wix might be for you.

Wix Core Functionalities

• Web Design
• Collaboration
• Content Management

Wix Pros

• Simple website builder aimed at helping anyone build a high-quality online presence
• All-in-one option, including codeless building tools, hosting, and security
• Ad-sponsored options available

Wix Cons

• Wix’s free offering is pretty bare-bones and requires Wix branding in your site’s URL. You'll have to pay $32/month to get a premium subscription
• Less flexible than WordPress — for example, you’re unable to change your site template once you’ve started building
• Limits in terms of page layouts, as well as color and text styling make it less suited for visually complex sites

Total

Wix is a popular choice for many web developers' very first website. It's incredibly easy and simple to get something started with no extra cost. I'd recommend this tool for beginning web enthusiasts who want to build a simple website for their hobbies or perhaps even a personal portfolio website. However, once you want more functionality from your website, I'd switch to CMS Hub or WordPress, depending on your needs.

13. Framer: Best Simple Design Tool for Web Apps and Products

Free

OS: Any (web-based)

Originally, Framer was simply a library of JavaScript and a prototyping tool set. It has since evolved into one of the most powerful tools for creating responsive designs. Now, this fast prototyping tool enables designers at every skill level to create complex animations and generate code for React components.

This sets it apart from Sketch, although their vector-based interface looks similar. You can also build your website with this tool. Thanks to its AI capabilities, you'll get a site you love in a matter of minutes.

Framer Core Functionalities

• Web App Prototyping
• Wireframing
• Collaboration

Framer Pros

• Powerful all-in-one design alternative to tools like Figma and Adobe XD
• Tight control over interactive components and animations
• Compatibility with react components

Framer Cons

• The free version of Framer limits you to two editors and three projects
• Steep learning curve due to intimidating interface and complex workflow
• Having JavaScript knowledge is key to using the tool to its full potential

Total

As far as free software tools go, Framer doesn't give you a lot of functionality compared to the other options I've listed. You would use Framer if you eventually plan on switching over to the paid version. Still, Framer is one of the most powerful tools in the category for web apps and prototyping, giving you a similar product as Sketch but with even more functionality. 

14. Durable: Best for getting a workable website design within seconds

Durable is an AI-based website design tool that lets you get started with a website in seconds. Rather than tell you about it, let me just show you. Let's say I wanted to build a website for my colorful socks empire. 

Simply fill out what type of business you're building, where you're located, and your business name to get started. Here's what my generated website looks like.

Just at a glance, there are a lot of great design principles going on here for a beginner web developer.

• Social media tags in the top right give you the chance to link to your business across multiple platforms
• The banner is prominent and accompanied by a compelling CTA to help you convert site visitors into customers
• Categories that let you customize your website feature your best products
• 'Regenerate' button lets you completely redo the website if you don't like what you got the first time

I encourage you to try out the tool for yourself because that's the best way to understand how quickly you can set up your website. You do have to sign up for a free account to edit the website. Here's what that looks like.

As you can see, it's pretty similar to the last image, but you have the option to add new sections, edit existing sections, and publish the website.

OS: Any (web-based)

Durable Core Functionalities

• Fast and efficient creation
•  Customizable
• Built-in CRM Tool

Durable Pros

• Intuitive and easy to use
• Custom domain name with subscription
• AI copy included
• Pricing: Only $12/month (billed yearly) gets you a custom domain, access to millions of stock images, and blog articles

Durable Cons

• Limited features if you want to build a more advanced website
• Limited to 3 pages with a free subscription

Total

Durable is the perfect solution for if you need to get a website up and running as soon as possible. It takes care of all the nitty gritty and gets you a nice-looking, albeit limited, website. If you need to build a more advanced website, I'd definitely look toward more established web builders like CMS Hub or WordPress, but as far as beginner websites go, you could do far worse than Durable.

15. UseGalileo: Best for design inspiration

UseGalileo is my second pick for an AI-based design tool that you can use to improve your website. This is a good choice if you're designing a mobile-only website, as the dimensions don't translate well to a desktop. You do have to sign up to use this service, but it's completely free. 

This post is better for UX designers who are trying to focus on design ideas rather than a workable website. It's great for experimentation and ideation but is a limited tool compared to some of the others on this list. 

Here's an example of a design that I really liked from the prompt "a job-hunting app, in the style of a dating app."

Let's set the genius of this idea aside for a moment and look at the functionality of UseGalileo. It's a simple layout which you as a designer can take to your developer and say "Here! Something like this!"  

OS: Any (web-based)

UseGalileo Core Functionalities

• Experimenting
• Early-Stage Design Ideation

UseGalileo Pros

• Simple
• Easy-to-use

UseGalileo Cons

• Limited Functionality
• Potential Delays: The server can take some time to get back to you on a design idea if it's complicated. I tried to generate a website for 'displaying pianists from every state with a thumbs-up, thumbs-down voting system for users to decide which videos are featured at the top', and the website was unable to fill my request.

Total

As of writing this article, UseGalileo is really good for one thing only: mobile mock-ups ideation. If this functionality is useful for you, you'll love UseGalileo. If you don't need this niche tool, then you won't find it helpful. It's as simple as that.

Code Free Web Design Software

16. Bootstrap: Best Prebuilt Web Design Framework

Free

OS: Any

Built originally by the Twitter engineering team, Bootstrap is now the most popular framework in the world for building mobile-first, responsive websites. It's basically a free library of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which helps streamline the process of building a site from scratch. There are dozens of features — including a grid system, a series of responsive breakpoints, and a rich components library — that make coding easier and faster.

The component library has buttons, navigation bars, forms, headers, alerts, and so forth. You can simply download the current version of Bootstrap, or load it locally with BootstrapCDN, copy one of the sample templates, and begin customizing.

Bootstrap Core Functionalities

• Front-End Web Design
• User Interface Design

Bootstrap Pros

• A must-know for mobile-first web development
• Allows you to build websites for both desktop and mobile without creating two different sites
• Dozens of responsive interface options, each with multiple easy style customization
• Extensive documentation that’s clear for beginners

Bootstrap Cons

• Coding knowledge is required (as it’s a CSS framework)
• As far as styling goes, Bootstrap has native options for its components, but they’re not extensive, which can make Bootstrap-powered websites look homogenous
• Minimal backward compatibility with older versions of the framework

Total

When it comes to the more technical tools, Bootstrap is the best for those looking to focus on mobile-first web development. This involves looking at your website traffic and determining whether users primarily find your website through desktop or mobile. These days, 54% of users find websites through mobile, making Bootstrap a valuable tool for all developers.

17. Sublime Text: Best Free Code Editor for Mac

Free

OS: macOS

Sublime Text is a free web design tool that's optimal for coding a website from the ground up. It allows you to keep HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code all in one unified file, and it color-codes different tags and attributes for easier reading and editing. If you pair Bootstrap with Sublime Text, you'll be able to easily build a high-performing website — and efficiently. While this tool has a niche use, it will quickly become a favorite because of how reliable and easy to use it is.

Sublime Text Core Functionalities

• Coding
• Text Editing

Sublime Text Pros

• Among the most popular and well-reviewed free code editors available
• Customizable interface
• Essential code editing features like color coding, search functionality
• Many plugins to try with the tool
• Lightweight

Sublime Text Cons

• Sublime Text is free to try but you will eventually need to purchase a license for continued use
• Coding knowledge is required (as it’s a text editor)
• Some users have complained that Sublime is light on native features compared to its plugin offerings

Total

I picked Sublime for the best free Mac code editor because it lives up to its name. It has a friendly user interface, is easy to organize, and also has plugins to extend its functionality beyond the native features. You will eventually need to purchase a license, but it's worth trying this powerful tool while the free trial window is open.

18. Visual Studio Code: Best Free Code Editor for Windows

Free

OS: Windows, macOS, Linux

Visual Studio Code is to Windows what Sublime Text is to macOS. Use it to intuitively write and edit HTML and CSS code. You can also use it to build a Bootstrap website. Visual Studio Code gives you access to a wealth of extensions to expand the functionality of the tool. For instance, you can download GitLive to collaborate with other developers and designers.

Visual Studio Code Core Functionalities

• Coding
• Text Editing

Visual Studio Code Pros

• Lightweight and efficient
• Large extension library to improve the editor, including a GitHub integration
• Extensive documentation for beginner users

Visual Studio Code Cons

• Coding knowledge is required (as it’s a text editor)
• A steep learning curve compared to Sublime, but still manageable for beginners

Total

Visual Studio is a classic code editor that has been around for over 25 years. Because it's been around so long, there's an extensive amount of information through various forums to help answer any questions you might have. On the flip side, learning can be tougher since it's not as intuitive as Sublime. The choice between the two really comes down to preference and, of course, which OS you're using. But consider this: if you ever need to switch from Mac to Windows for any reason, it will save you a lot of time already being familiar with Visual Studio.

Why is using web design software important?

Whether you are building your website from scratch or redesigning it, making use of these tools can be paramount to doing so in a timely, cost-effective manner. (Psst: wondering why you should redesign your website? We've got you covered.)

Without web design software, though, you can easily build a website that won't perform as expected. That's why wireframing, prototyping, and coding are important — and you can use the tools above to get that done.

Here's why using web design software is important:

1. Your web design sets the first impression.

Your website is often the first impression consumers have of the business. You want to make it a good one, and fast. An outdated or poorly designed website could sour a visitor’s first impression of your brand, and deter them from staying on your site or returning.

2. Good web design impacts your SEO.

Web design practices and elements not only impact the visitor experience — they also impact how search engine bots crawl and then index your website.

You can learn web design best practices through diligent research and practice. To simplify the process and save time, you can also work with a website development company that knows what they’re doing.

3. A good design sets the tone for your customer service.

By simply looking at your website, visitors can glean insights into how you would treat them as customers. If you thoughtfully include web design elements that make it easier for them to navigate your website, learn about your products, and more, then that indicates they can expect the same thought and care from your customer service.

On the other hand, if no effort was put into your web design, then that indicates to visitors that your business would not put effort into helping them as customers either.

4. A good design fosters trust with your audience.

If your site is outdated or poorly designed, consumers will be less likely to trust your brand and more likely to view you as less credible and professional than your competitors.

By updating your design, you can build audience trust. This is critical. If you gain their trust, visitors will be more likely to stay on your website longer and give their personal information, which means you’ll have more opportunity to convert them into leads.

5. Good web design builds consistency.

When you are attempting to gain new business leads, you want to generate brand awareness. If your audience is familiar with your business, then they will be more likely to choose you when they are ready to purchase.

Web design plays a huge part in brand consistency. Considering its importance, you might want to work with a web design company to help you create a beautiful design across your site.

Use Web Design Software to Build a Stellar Website

The right web design software can empower you to prototype, wireframe, and design a website that delights your visitors. Luckily, many tools are free. Be sure to try your hand at the tools listed above to code your site from the ground up or revamp it entirely.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in August 2021 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.